Planetary Clones

Discovering planets similar to the ones in our solar system can offer clues about our past and future–which is why scientists were excited after identifying “baby Jupiter,” a younger version of the gas giant, some 100 light-years from Earth. It’s in good company.

KEPLER-186F

The “chilly Earth”–some 490 light-years away–is the same size as our planet, and it orbits its parent star once every 130 days. It’s also warm enough to sustain liquid water.

KEPLER-452B

Smaller than Neptune and bigger than Earth, Kepler-452b is 1,400 light-years away and may have a rocky surface.

ERIS

This “dwarf planet” at the fringes of our solar system forced scientists to create a new category of tiny planets, which now includes Pluto.